Lavandula Angustifolia - English Lavender

Growing Information: Plant in full sun and clean, well-drained soil 12 inches apart. Mulch with an inch or two of coarse sand. Give the plant time to reemerge in spring before trimming. In areas with mild winters, you can shear growing lavender into a low hedge, knot, or edging. Remove faded flowers.

Propagation: Most lavender seed germinates slowly and erratically. Propagate most cultivars from cuttings, layering, or division.

Cultivars: Dozens of cultivars are available. 'Lavender Lady', which reaches about 10 inches high, grows relatively quickly from seed. It can flower the first year after planting if started indoors in late winter, so it can be grown as an annual in climates too cold for other lavenders.

'Munstead' forms a neat mound 12 inches high. It is one of the hardiest cultivars. 'Jean Davis' reaches only 12 inches high and has pink flowers. 'Twickel Purple' has purple flowers on a 2-foot-high plant.

Possible Problems: Plant in very well-drained soil to prevent rot. Encourage good air circulation to prevent foliage diseases.

Harvesting and Using: Lavender is an attractive ornamental with a wonderful fragrance. Harvest flower stalks when in bud; bunch and dangle them to dry in a warm, airy location. Use flowers in potpourri, sachets, wreaths, flower arrangements, and cooking.

Related Herbs: There are a number of species that are not hardy in northern areas. Where winters are cold, you can grow these species as annuals or bring them indoors during winter. They are listed here by botanical names.

L. dentata, a native of Spain and southern France, has toothed, green leaves on stems that can reach up to 3 feet high. The flowers can be blue or white. 'Candicans' is a cultivar with gray leaves. 'Linda Ligon' has white-spotted leaves. L. stoechas reaches up to 2 feet high with extra-early, dark purple flowers. Woolly lavender (L. lanata) has woolly white leaves and purple flowers. It gets to be 2 feet high.